25 Sports Sunday, February 3, 2019 Gatland hails winning Wales after gripping French victory Victory was Wales’ tenth in the row PARIS: Warren Gatland hailed his Wales team as one other foot, they’re a team searching for some confi- that has “forgotten to lose” as they turned around an dence, not having had a great run in the last seven or unprecedented 16-point deficit to bag a thrilling 24-19 eight matches.” victory over France in the Six Nations opener on Gatland, in his last Six Nations as Wales coach as he Friday. The victory was Wales’ 10th in the row, a series steps down after the Rugby World Cup in Japan, that equals their winning streak back in 1999 under ex- warned: “We know we get better the more time we All Blacks coach Graham Henry. “It was strange,” have together and we showed that in November. Gatland said of the rain-hit match which saw France “There were lots of things today from us getting out race out to a 16-0 half-time lead before Wales came of that game and winning, we’ll improve. “It’s tough in back in the second period. the Six Nations when you come up one of the big “In fairness to France I thought they were very good games. France in Paris is a big challenge first up.” in the first half, we made too many errors, turned the Gatland will take a 31-man squad to Nice for the ball over and probably in the weather conditions tried week leading up to their next game, against Italy in to play to much rugby. “We were much better in the Rome. The Kiwi coach hinted there would be wholesale second half, we created some chances and converted changes for the match against the Azzurri in a bid to them.” After Tomos Williams crossed for a try early in replicate World Cup conditions. the second-half, France, for whom half-backs Morgan France coach Jacques Brunel was left “disappointed” Parra and Camille Lopez botched 13 points with the by his team’s lack of control. “We were fully committed, kicking tee, gifted George North two tries. did lots of interesting things, notably in the first half,” First Yoann Huget made a hash of covering a Brunel said. “Even if we didn’t master everything, we Hadleigh Parkes grubber, the ball popping up for North managed to put Wales under pressure. to just dot down in the simplest of five-pointers. And “We know they have a formidable defence, and then lock Sebastien Vahaamahina threw out an unlikely unfortunately we didn’t start the second-half well, and floated pass that was easily picked off by the experi- they did. “I don’t think it’s a mental state of mind, we enced Welsh winger. showed until the end we had the fighting spirit. There “A 16-point swing doesn’t usually happen in interna- was a lack of game management.” Brunel’s French side tional rugby, but we were able to get that snowball face England away next week, and the former Italy effect early in the second-half to chase down that coach said: “We’ll try to keep the same spirit despite deficit,” Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones said. the disappointment and focus on the positives. “We Gatland added: “The big difference between the two have to improve the control we lacked in this match. But SAINT DENIS: Wales’ head coach Warren Gatland (R) looks on prior to the Six Nations rugby union tournament teams is we’ve become a side for the moment that’s for- facing England will be as difficult a challenge as facing match between France and Wales at the stade de France, in Saint Denis, on the outskirts of Paris.— AFP gotten how to lose and can dig deep by that. “On the Wales and it’ll also be a mental test for us.” — AFP the circuit so far this year but the Slovak came fifth, a Shiffrin sends full 1.7sec adrift over the two runs. The American looks unstoppable this season, espe- cially in good weather, and won her 56th career World daunting world Cup race largely thanks to a pulsating first run that no Kovalev out to other skier in the field came remotely close to equalling. championships The victory means the 23-year-old Shiffrin is just one World Cup win short of Vreni Schneider’s all-time ‘fix mistake’ record of 14 victories in a World Cup campaign. message “It’s always a big fight but it’s something I’m really with Alvarez proud of,” said Shiffrin. “This whole season my team has done a great job.” LOS ANGELES: Sergey Kovalev says he’s learned MARIBOR: Mikaela Shiffrin powered to her 13th World Another record in the two-time defending Crystal from his mistakes and will avenge his knockout loss Cup victory of the season in yesterday’s slalom at Globe holder’s sights is the most points accumulated in to Eleider Alvarez when he takes on the Colombian Maribor, the final women’s race ahead of the world a single season. Tina Maze holds the record with 2,414 in Frisco, Texas, for the WBO light heavyweight championships in Sweden next week. points but Shiffrin is closing in with 1,694 and a possi- world title. On a clear and bright day with good skiing condi- ble 11 races remaining. Alvarez seized the World Boxing Organization tions she finished 0.77 seconds in front of Sweden’s Her strongest discipline, the slalom, has earned her MARIBOR: Mikaela Shiffrin of the US smiles on podium belt from Kovalev on August 4. He was trailing on Anna Swenn-Larsson, with Wendy Holdener of six wins since the November 17 opening weekend, but after winning the FIS World Cup Slalom in Maribor, every scorecard, but knocked the Russian down Switzerland third. there have also been three Super-G and three giant Slovenia, yesterday. — AFP three times in the seventh round to win his first Petra Vlhova has come closest to rivalling Shiffrin on slalom triumphs and one parallel slalom win. — AFP world title. Kovalev said he ran out of steam because of over-training for the fight, an error he hasn’t made under new trainer Buddy McGirt. Ooredoo ambassador “Yes, I made a mistake, but this time I will fix it,” Kovalev said. “I didn’t have enough gas, enough Al-Hasawi wins in Atyab power. It was like something was wrong with my body. “I always push myself more than needed and that was my biggest mistake in my boxing career,” Al Marshoud Championship he said. “Buddy has taught me a lot-saving energy for the fight and I listen to him 100% on his recom- KUWAIT: Ooredoo Kuwait’s brand ambassador, Rakan Al-Hasawi, won first mendations and I follow his instructions.” place in Atyab Al Marshoud show jumping competition which took place at Kovalev, who fell to 32-3 with one drawn and 28 the Kuwait Riding Center. A large number of equestrians from local riding knockouts with the loss to Alvarez, said McGirt and clubs participated in the competition. Al-Hasawi was awarded with a trophy strength coach Teddy Cruz have given him a well- and a car by the competition’s organizer, Waleed Al-Marshoud who was rounded build-up to the bout. proud of this great achievement. “I had coaches, but they didn’t help me with my Al-Hasawi won a number of awards locally and regionally, such as the Al boxing or my conditioning or anything,” he said. Diriyah Junior Jumping Championship, the Kuwait Police Show Jumping “Everything I did myself. I am happy that I started Tournament and the Kuwait Riding Center Tournament, in addition to the Hala working with Buddy and he has reminded me of my Febrayer 2017 which was sponsored by Ooredoo Kuwait, among other com- amateur style and using a lot of boxing - not the petitions. goal to knock somebody out, but boxing. Ooredoo takes great pride in the achievement of the young and promising “We have been working on defense, too, and Kuwaiti showjumper Rakan Al-Hasawi. The company’s commitment to sup- with the shape I am in and it will be very interest- porting youth is deep-rooted within the core values in Ooredoo Kuwait. ing. “The last fight, he got lucky.” Alvarez, 24-0 Ooredoo is especially proud of the young athletes that it sponsors, such as with 12 wins inside the distance, is out to prove that Kuwaiti champion Abdulaziz Al-Rashed, and Kuwaiti athlete Najlaa Al-Jeraiwi isn’t true. who represented Kuwait in the Asian Games last year. “I believe that’s excuses he’s making,” Alvarez Empowering youth is among Ooredoo’s top priorities through its CSR said. “When you lose, you have a lot of excuses. I strategy. The company has recently signed a memorandum of understanding had a great game plan with my team and he said it with the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs, to support youth projects and ini- was an accident. “Well, he’s going to have another tiatives. Ooredoo is continuously working with the Ministry to enrich youth accident.” — AFP Rakan Al-Hasawi experience in a variety of fields, with a focus on volunteerism. Al-Osaimi opens pistol and rifle referees course, Morocco grand prix gets underway By Abdellatif Sharaa and KUNA sport of shooting. He said these courses polish referees experi- KUWAIT: Secretary General of Arab and Kuwait ences and qualify them to officiate major tourna- Shooting Federations Obaid Al-Osaimi, the ISSF ments, adding that he is happy to be in Kuwait.